Law enforcement warns public about buying air guns as gifts for kids

Police have some tips if you plan on buying a loved one a pellet or BB gun for Christmas.

Author:
Brandon Bates

Published:
9:33 PM EST December 18, 2018

Updated:
12:31 AM EST December 19, 2018

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The holiday season is upon us, and police are warning people about buying fake or replica guns for young loved ones as a gift.

Knoxville police officers carry a Sig Sauer .45 caliber handgun and they use a replica airsoft gun, one that shoots plastic pellets, for training. The two guns would almost be impossible to tell apart if it wasn't for the orange tip on the airsoft gun.

"It's hard to tell at a glance which is true and which is not the real gun. They're pretty much identical in all aspects," Shane Watson, the range master with the Knoxville Police Department, said.

That's why law enforcement is warning people about buying these as gifts for kids.

"For all practical purposes or appearances, it looks to be a real firearm. Especially with law enforcement, you can't assume that it's not," Watson said.